Nine years after being asked to consider the possible merits of medical marijuana, the DEA has ruled to continue classifying marijuana as a drug of abuse with no approved medicinal value.

Nine years after being petitioned by medical marijuana advocates to reconsider marijuana’s legal classification, the DEA has come back with a ruling to deny any changes to current federal marijuana classification law.

In a statement explaining their decision, the feds argued that "DHHS concluded that marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use in the United States, and lacks an acceptable level of safety for use even under medical supervision."

But while this may seem like bad news for those who’d like to see greater use of marijuana as medicine, some pro-marijuana campaigners were celebrating, saying that since the government has at long last responded to their petition they now have a legal option to appeal that decision and keep things moving forward.

Speaking to the LA Times, Joe Elford of Americans for Safe Access explained, enthusing, "We have foiled the government’s strategy of delay, and we can now go head-to-head on the merits, that marijuana really does have therapeutic value." He argues that given the numerous studies which show marijuana’s efficacy in treating conditions from glaucoma to multiple sclerosis that the ruling can’t be based on evidence, stating, “The decision is clearly motivated by a political decision that is anti-marijuana.”

Other organizations that may dispute the government’s claim of ‘no medical value’ include The American Medical Association, which has called for a review on marijuana classification and the American Cancer Institute, which notes that marijuana is helpful in alleviating weight loss caused by nausea.

Helpful Reading:

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